CS 346 (Fall 2021)

Logistics: We will start out meeting virtually. See the syllabus on Canvas for more information.
TTh 11:00-12:30
GDC 5.302
Unique Number: 52870
Course web page: http://www.cs.utexas.edu/~diz/346
Professor: David Zuckerman
Email: diz@cs.utexas.edu
Phone: 471-9729
Office: GDC 4.508
Office Hours: TBD
Textbook: Jonathan Katz and Yehuda Lindell, Introduction to Modern Cryptography
Other References: Salil Vadhan's lecture notes
Dan Boneh and Victor Shoup, A Graduate Course in Applied Cryptography
Avi Wigderson, Mathematics and Computation
Course Overview: This undergraduate course is an introduction to cryptography, covering the mathematical techniques behind computer security. It includes methods to communicate secretly and authenticate data in the presence of adversarial attacks. We will show how to do seemingly impossible tasks, such as how two parties can communicate secretly even if they didn't agree on a secret key beforehand. To do this properly, we'll need to give precise definitions and computational assumptions, so that we can rigorously prove security. This course will be very mathematical, relying on probability and number theory and mathematical proof. It should be similar to the 2020 version. A list of topics and approximate times follows.

Topic Chapter(s) Approximate Time
Introduction, Perfect Secrecy 1-2 1 week
Private-Key Encryption 3 2 weeks
Computational Number Theory 8 1 week
One-Way Functions, Pseudorandomness 7 1-2 weeks
Authentication 4 1-2 weeks
Hash Functions 5 1-2 weeks
Public-Key Cryptography 10-12 2 weeks
Advanced Topics N/A 1-2 weeks

Prerequisites: CS 331 or 331H. Naturally, you also need the prerequisites and corequisites for CS 331, including Discrete Math (CS 311 or 311H), Probability (SDS 321 or M 362K), and Linear Algebra (SDS 329C, Math 340L, or Math 341). Probability is essential, so make sure you know it well. Number theory is helpful but not required. Students should know the material in the mathematical background sheet.
Laptops/Phones: The use of laptops and mobile devices is generally prohibited; however, you may use a tablet if you sit in the first row and use it only for class-related purposes. Other exceptions may be made in unusual circumstances. All phones must be silenced.
Classroom Safety and COVID-19: The university and I strongly recommend that everyone get vaccinated; they are widely available, free, and not billed to health insurance. Here is an excellent technical explanation of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine targeting computer scientists with little knowledge of biology. We also strongly encourage you to follow university mask guidance when we meet in person. Visit protect.utexas.edu for more information.
Canvas: We will use Canvas, which contains Piazza. Homeworks and grades will be posted on Canvas. We will use Piazza for class discussion. Instead of emailing questions to the teaching staff, please post your question to Piazza.

Last modified: August 22, 2021